Automatic machine-gun



(E0 Model.) 1 5 sheets shet 1 R. R. RICHMOND. AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

No. 572,771. Patented De0. 8, 1896.

. ,0 M H C I R R R AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

Patented Dec. 8, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROMULUSR. RICHMOND, OF CIIARITON, IOWA.

AUTQMIATIIC MACHINE-GU n.

SPECIFICATIONformingpart of Letters Patent No. 572,771, dated December 8, 1896. Application filed June 19, 1896. Serial No. 595,197. (lb? model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROMULUS R. RICHMOND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chariton, in the county of Lucas and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Automatic lllachine-Guns, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to anew and useful improvement in automatic rapid-firing machine-guns, and has for its object to so con-, struct and organize suclt a gun as to bring about the several operations necessary to loading and discharging a gun automatically, and upon the firing of the first discharge to store a suflicient amount of energy from the gases generated by the exploding material to bring about a continuous operation of the several mechanisms thereof without attention upon the part of the operator Another object of my invention is to provide means whereby the continuous discharg-- ing of the gun may be arrested at any time by simply cutting off communication between the storage-tank and the power-cylinder.

Vith these ends in view my invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled, in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction and operation in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a gun built in accordance with myimprovement; Fig. 2, a section at the line 1: r of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a section at the line as mot Fig, 2; Fig. 4, a section at the liney 11 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a section at the line z of Fig.2; Fig. 6, a rear view of the gun; Fig. 7, a. section at the line T '1 of Fig. 2; Fig. 8, a detail view of the-hammer and mechanism for actuating the same, and Fig. 9 a section at the line U U of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 represents the carriage,which maybe of any desired construction or design, having mounted thereon the swiveled platform 2,whieh latter is provided with the uprights 3, in which is trunnioneitat 5 the gun-bed 4, and this bed consists of a platform adapted to ca'rgy the "a beveled pinion 21, carried upon. the

various mechanisms necessary to load and fire the barrels of the gun, and has mounted thereon the two barrels 6 and 7, as also the two firing-cylinders S and 5), which work in conjunction with the barrels 6 and 7,10spcctively.

Formed with or bolted to the trunnionblocks are the cylinder-plates 1.1 and 12, the latter forming the breech-block. and the former acting as the rear support for the barrels and-as a recoil-stay. Between these cylinder-plates are pivoted the cylinders 8 and 9 upon the trunnions .13 and 14-, as clearly shown-in Fig. 2. Each of the cylinders is provided with four liring-clutmbers 15, each of which latter is adapted tobe brought into conjunction with the bore of the barrel corresponding to the cylinder in which said chambers are formed, so that balls discharged from the chambers of the cylinders will be projected through the barrels for the purposes of increased velocity and accuracy of aim, as is well understood in ordnance, and the revolving of these cylinders 15 broughtabout in the manner hereinafter set forth.

To effect the several movements of the various mechanisms of the ,gun in time, a main shaft 16 is journaled within the bearings 17 upon the front end of the gun-bed, and loosely mounted upon this shaft is a beveled wheel 18,, having a slot 1.) formed in the hub thereof, into which projects a pin 20, the latter being secured to the shaft so that when said shaft is turned a certain amount of lost motion permitted before the gear-wheel is caused to move with the shaft for the purpose hereinafter set forth. Meshing with the gear 18 is outer end of the shaft which latter is journaled in the bearings 23 and 24. Upon the inner end of this longitudinal shaft is secured a double lever 25, the ends of which are connected by the links 26 to the ratchet-arms 27 and 28. Those arms are journaled upon the extensions of the trunnions it of the cyl' indcrs S and 9, said extensions havingratchetteeth 30 cut thereon, and each of the arms is provided with a pawl ill, by means of which the oscillatory motion which imparted to the arms 27 and 28 will cause the cylinders S and 9 to revolve intermittently step by step, and the mechanism which brings about these iii'ovemcnts is so arranged and timed as to cause one cylinder to dwell while the other is being rotated, the reason for which will presently appear. 1

Rigidly secured upon the main shaft 16 is anjarm 32, the outer end of which is bifurcated for the reception and guidance of the outer end of the rod 33, which latter is provided with a slot 34, engaged by a pin 35, set in the end of thearm. 32, so that when the shaft 16 is'oseillated but a part of the movement of the outer end of the arm will be imparted to therod 33, and this near each end of the movements of said arm. The rod 33 i is pivoted at 36 to a rock-lever 37, the latter having pivoted at one of its ends a lockingbolt 38 and at its opposite end a locking-bolt 39. These bolts are fitted to slide snugly within the cylinder-plate 11, and are adapted to pass intoengag'em ent with one of the chambers 15 of the cylinders, so as to lock said cylinders against the slightest movement when the chamberto be firedis brought into proper alinement'with the bore of the barrel corresponding thereto, and in the organism of my,

present improvement the locking of the cylinder takes places immediately after the latter has been turned and just prior to the firing of the charge contained within the chamber in alineinent with the barrel.

The firing of the cartridge or shell, which has previously been inserted within the firingchamber, is effectedin the cylinder 8 by the hammer 40, whichis pivoted at 41, the heel end 42 thereof projecting within the field of a series of wiper-cams 43, carried by the camwheel 44, which latter has journaled upon the same shaft therewith a ratchet-wheel 45, having teeth corresponding in number to said wipers. with the ratchet-wheel and carries a pawl 47, adapted to engage a with the teeth of said ratchet, so as to impart an intermittent stepby-step rotary motion to said ratchet in the direction of the arrownext adjacent thereto, and this lever in turn receives its motion, through the rod 48-, from the arm 49, which is rigidly secured to the main shaft 16, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Thus when said shaft is oscillated, as hereinafterset forth, one of the wiper-cams will be caused to operate upon the heel of the hammer for every complete oscillation of said shaft, whereby said hammer will be swung backward against the action of the spring 50, and when this wiper passes beyond the heel of the hammer the latter will be forced inward by said spring, its nose 5i striking the firing-pin 52 in such manner as to discharge-the cartridge or shell within the firing-chamber in the wellknown manner. This same result is accomplished in connection with the cylinder 9 by the hammer 53, which is pivoted at 54 and has its heel 55 within the field of action of the wipercams 56, carried by the cam-wheel 57 to which is secured the ratchet-wheel 5 8,adapted to be actuated by the pawl 59, carried by the lever 60, in the same'manner as that described ,ing mechanisms of the A lever 46 is pivoted concentric.

in connection with the firing mechanismof the cylinder 8. The lever 60 is connectedby the rod 61 to the arm 62, which latter is secured rigidly upon the main shaft 16, and

extends in a direction diametrically opposite ject of which is to cause the hammer-actuattwo barrels to operate alternately.

An arm 63 is secured to the main shaft, and by means of the rod 64 is connected to the double lever 65, which is pivoted at 66, and in turn has pivoted thereto at 67 the loadingplunger 68, the latter being guided within the bracket 69, so as to insert a cartridge or shell within one of the firing-chambers of the cylinder 8, the cartridges being fed into line with the proper firing-chamber of said cylinder by a chute or magazine-,belt70, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, where a portion of saidchute is broken away, illustrating the relative position of the cartridges to the loadin g-plunger.

To the lower end of the lever 65 at 71 is pivoted a link 7 2, the opposite end of which is pivoted at 73 to the ejector-bar 7 4, which latter is guided in suitable bearin gs 75 and carries the ejector 76, and this ejector is adapted '0 pass through a suitable hole in the cylin- .to that in which the arm 49 extends, the obder-plate 11, arranged in line with the lower chamber of the cylinder 8 when the upper chamber thereof is in line with. the barrel. From this it will be seen that when proper oscillation is imparted to the main shaft the lever 65 will be caused to rock upon its pivotpoint to such a degree as to cause the load-.

ing-plunger to force the bottom shell from the magazine into the outer firing-chamber the turning of said cylinder by the mechanism. before described. This same result is brought about in connection with the cylinder 9 by the loading-plunger 7 7 ,carried by the plan ger-bar 78, guided in suitablebearings 79,and connected by the link to the arm 81, which is rigidly secured upon the main-shaft 16. This plunger is guided in the bracket'82, so as to operate upon the bottom cartridge in the magazine 83 to force said cartridge within the proper chamber of the cylinder 9. The ejector 84 is guided by the bearing 85 and a suit able hole in the cylinder-plate 11, so as to come in line with the lower chamber of its cylinder, and motion is imparted to said ejec- IIO tor from the arm 86 through the link 87,

said. arm being-rigidly secured upon the main shaft 16.

From the foregoing description it is obvigiven to the main shaft 16, as hereinafter described, each of the firing-cyliinlers will be alternately operated and one of the chambers therein will be loaded, unlocked, the ejector withdrawn, after which the cylinder will be turned through a distance equal to one of the chambers therein, the barrel again locked, immediately after which the cartridge will be fired, the ejectorrun through the proper chambeii-to extract the shell previously fired, and a new cartridge inserted during the time that the ejector is being withdrawn from its chamber, which completes the several steps taken in'the operation of each of the cylinders and brings the mechanisms to a point where the cylinderis again ready to be turned another step. I

It is to be noted that one round of discharges must take place bet-ore the several mechanisms will be useful in their operations, as, for-instance, when the first cartridge is loaded and fired the operations of the ejector while proceeding will have no shell to eject,

Since the operations of load in g and turning one of the cylinders, in order that the loaded chamber may be brought to the proper position to be fired, takes place during the time that one of the chambers of the opposite cylinder is being tired, it will be seen that the discharges of the gun from its two barrels will be almost continuous.

In order that the main shaft 16 may be given its proper oscillationsd provide a powercylinder 88, in which is placed a piston 88 of any ordinary construction, and to this piston is connected the piston-rod S9, having a crossslot 90 formed therein with which the pin 91 engages. The piston-rod is provided with an extension running in a bearing 92 for the purpose of guiding said rod against lateral movements.

Thepin 01, which engages the slot 00,-is secured within the outer end of the crankarm 93, and the latter is secured to the main shaft 10, so that when the piston-rod is moved to and fro, as hereinafter described, said shaft is given an oscillatory movement.

Leading to each end of the powercylinder 88 is an ind uction-pipe 04, and those two pipes converge and meet at 05, where a throttlevalve is placed for the control of the flow of gas through said pipes, and for convenience of operation a hand-rod 00 is pivoted to a lever carried by said valve, and this red extends baekward into easy reach of the manipulator of the gun.

A pipe 07 leads from the reservoir-hulk OS to the induction-pipes 04- and connects with the latter at the point where the valve 05 is placed, the valve being of such construction as to permit the flow of gas from the pipe 97 through both of thepipes 0i orcnli ollsaid flow. At the nppcrends of the pipes 01-, where they enter the powercylinder, are located the valves 09, which are connected by a valverod 100 to the pistonaod at 101, and this vai w -r nl is slu led at the points where it is connected to the levers of'the valves 99, in order that considerable lost motion may be had between the movements of the piston-rod and the operations of the valves, with .the obvious result of. holding the valves open or erable portion of the movement of the piston, thus permitting the inflowin g of gas from the reservoir-tank to first one end of the cylinder and. then the other, and while the gas is being admitted to one end of the cylinder it is being exhausted at the other end through one of the exhaust-pipes 102. By this arrangement so long as the reservoir is supplied with gas or other fluid under suflieient pressure and the passage therebetween and the power-cylinder remains open the oscillations of the shaft 16 will continue, from which oscillations the several mechanisms which bring about the loading and discharging of the two barrels of the gun will continue their operations automatically without attention upon the part of the manipulator, the only requirement being that the magazines shall be kept supplied with cartridges, and as this may be done by feeding said magazines from their upper ends the gun may be caused to continue its discharges indefinitely without interruption.

reservoir 08 is accomplished in the following manner: Near the outer end of each of the barrels is formed a slot 103, under which is placed a cap 104, and from this cap leads a tube 105, which is connected at its opposite end to the reservoir at 106, it being noted that there are two of these tubes entering the reservoir. Now when a discharge takes place in either of the cylinders and the ball is projected through the barrel after passing the slot 103 the gases of explosion will have access to the reservoir through the slot and tube 105, and by means of a cheek-valve 1.0- seated within the tube at 106 said gas is permitted to enter the reservoir, after which the check-valve will close and prevent the egress of said gas. As this takes place at every discharge through eitherof the barrels, it is obvious that the reservoir will be kept supplied with gas under considerable pressure so long as the firing of the gun continues. Thus it will be seen that after the first cartridge has-been discharged, thereby creating a pressure within the reservoir, further operations'of the mechanisms to con- .tinne the loading and firing of the cylinders of the gun may be had by simply establish ing communication between the reservoir and the power-cylinder 88 by the proper inanipulation of the valve .05 through the main rod 516, as before described.

The aiming of the gun in horizontal planes swiveled platform upon the carriage, as is well understood in ordnance, and to facilitate the movements of this platformv upon the carriage I provide a series of balls 107,

is accomplished by the movements of the closecl, as the case may be, through a consid- The storing of gas under pressure in the geared by the chain 113 to the sprocket-wheel 11-1, the latter being carried by a shaft which. is connected with a suitable motor run from a storage battery 115 or other suitable source of power. By the provisionof a suitable switchboard it will be seen that the gun may bequichly swung upon its pivot through a large sweep in either direction. To aimthe barrels of the gun at different angles, I pro- Vide a Windlass 116, upon the drum of which is coiled a cable 117, thetlatier passing around the pulley 11S and having its free end attached'to the eye 119, carried by the gunbed. Also carried by the same ,windlass is acable 120, which is attached to the eye 121, secured to the forward end of the gun-bed, so that when the Windlass is operated the gun-bed will be swung upon the trunnions 5, thereby bringing the barrels of the gun at any desired angle within its range.

. The carriage may be mounted upon suitable truck-wheels 122 and 123, so that it may be conveyed from one place to another, or when the gun'is intended for fortification or marine use the wheels maybe dispensed with and the carriage either made stationary or adapted to slide upon struck, so as to be brought out of and into operative position, as

- occasion may require.

One of the advantages of my improved gun is that a single person-may operate such a gun, as it is only necessary to bring about the initial discharge and keep the magazines loaded, and as this requires but little attention the remainder of the time may be given to the proper sighting of the barrels.

I am aware'that many slight modifications might be made in the mechanisms-here shown and described, as, for instance, the Windlass and cables maybe dispensed with, and in theirstead a worm and segmental worm-gear might be used to bring about the same results, or a jack-screw be so arranged to raise and lower the gun-bed for changing the angles of the arrels.

. which explosion a sufli'cientjainount of the gas will pass through one of the'tnbes105 to the reservoir, after which it is only necessary to establish communication between said reservoir and the power-cylinderby the operation of the throttle-valve 95, as before described.

' I have shown and described two guns mounted-upon asingle bed, having connected therewith the various mechanisms for operating the same; but it is obvious that any number of guns within certain limits may be thus mounted so as to Work in conjunction with each other, and the greater the number of guns the more nearly continuous will be the firing when the mechanisms are properly timed. 1

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as newand useful'is- V 1. In a rapid-firing machine-gun, the combination of a trunnioned gun-bed, a series of barrels mounted thereon, a series of cylinders corresponding in number tosaid bar rels adapted to work in conjunction therewith, mechanisms for bringing about the;

several operations of the cylinders,.a main shaft from which said mechanisms receive their actuations, a reservoir, means for connecting said reservoir with the barrelsof the gun wherebya portion'of the gases of explosion pass from said barrels to the reservoir, a power cylinder communicating with .said reservoir, and meanssuch as a piston and rod-for bringing aboutthe movements-of the main shaft, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a rapid-firing gun, aswiveled platform, a gun-bed trunnioned to said platform,

a series of gun-barrels mounte'dvu'pon said bed, a series of cylinders adapted to work in conjunction with said barrels, means for aiming the barrels, mechanisms for loading. firing, turning the cylinders and ejecting the used shells, a main shaft for operatin g the several m echanisms, a power-cylinder havi a piston adapted to slide therein,said plr'ltuu being connectedto the main shaft by a suit-,

able rod, valve mechanism for controlling the induction of compressed gas to the powercylinder, a reservoir-tank for retaining the compressed gas, and means foradmitting gas to said reservoir under pressure from the gunbarrels, substantially as shown and described.

iio

- In a rapid-firing machine-gun, the combination of a carriage, a swivelcd platform mounted thereon, mechanism for turnih g said platform, a gun -bed trunnioned upon the platform, mechanism for swinging said bed, a series of gun-barrels mounted upon the bed, a series of cylinders corresponding with the number of barrels, each cylinder having four firing-chambers therein which are adapted to be successively brought into alinement with the bores of the barrels, magazine-chutes so arranged that the, bottom cartridges therein will liein alinement with certain of the chambers, hammers for firing the cartridges when brought into alincment with the gun-barrels, ejectors adapted to force the used shells out of the chambers, means for revolving the cylinders intermittently step by step, means for locking said cylinders after being revolved, mechanisms for bringing about these several movement-s, a main shaft carrying a series of arms for imparting motion to said mechanisms, a power-cylinder having a piston therein, said piston being connected by a rod toasuitable arm carried by the main shaft, a reservoir for containing gas under pressure, valve mechanism for controlling the induction of said gas from the reservoir to the power-cylinder, tubes leading from the barrels to the reservoir, and check-valves arranged within the passages of said tubes, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

I. In a rapid-firing machine-gun, the combination of a carriage, a swiveled platform mounted thereon mechanism for turning said platform, a gun -bed trunnioned upon the platform, mechanism for swinging said bed, a series of gun-barrels mounted upon the bed, a series of cylinders corresponding with the number of barrels, each cylinder having four firing-chambers therein which are adapted to be successively brought into alinement with the bores of the barrels, magazine-chutes so arranged that the bottom cartridges therein will lie in alinement with certain of the chambers, loading-plungers for forcing the bottom cartridges of the magazines within the proper chambers of the cylinders, hammers for firing the cartridges when brought into alinement with the barrels, cjectors for forcing the used shells from out the cylinders, locking-bolts adapted to hold the cylinders against movement when the firing takes place, mechanisms for bringing about the movements of .said parts, a main shaft journaled upon the gun-bed, a series of arms carried bysaid shaft for effecting the movements of the mechanisms, a beveled gear loosely mounted upon 5 said shaft, a pin projecting from said shaft into engagement with a slot formed in the hub of said gear whereby the latter is caused to revolve in two directions and dwell, a pinion meshing wit-l1 said gear, a shaft upon which said pinion is secured, a double lever carried upon the opposite end of said shaft, ratchet-arms pivoted to the cylinder, links for connecting the ends of the double lever to the ratchet-arms, pawls carried by said arms, ratchets with which saidpawls are adapted to engage, and means for efiecting the movements of the main shaft, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a rapid-firing machine-gun, the combination of a carriage, a swiveled platform mounted thereon, mechanism for turning said platform, a gun-bed trunnioned upon the platform, mechanism for swinging said bed, a series of gun-barrels mounted upon the bed, a series of cylinders corresponding with the number of barrels, each cylinder having four 1 ringchambers therein which are adapted to be successively brought into alincment with the bores of the barrels, magazine-chutes so arranged that the bottom cartridges therein will lie in alinementwith certain of the chambers, loading-plungers for forcing the bottom cartridges of the magazines within the proper chambers of the cylinders, hammers for firing the cartridges when brought into alinement with the barrels, ejectors for forcing the used shells from out the cylinders, locking-bolts adapted to hold the cylinders against movementwhen the firing takes place, mechanism for bringing about the movements of said parts, a main shaft journaled upon the gun bed, a series of arms carried by said shaft for effecting the movements of the mechanisms, a beveled gear loosely mounted upon said shaft, a pin projecting from said shaft into engagement with a slot formed in the hub of said gear whereby the motion of the shaft is communicated to the hub, a pinion meshing with said gear, a shaft upon which said pin ion is secured, a double lever carried upon the opposite end of said shaft, ratchet-arms pivoted to the cylinder, links for connecting the ends of the double lever to the ratchetarms, pawls carried by said arms, ratehets with which said pawls are adapted to engage,

a reservoir-tank, tubes leading from slots formed in the gun-barrels to said tank, checkvalves interposed between said slots and tank and so arranged as to permit the inflow of gas to the tank but prevent its outflow, a powercylinder communicating with the tank by pipes, valves arranged within said pipes for controlling the induction and exhaust of gases to and from the power-cylinder, a piston-rod connected to a piston adapted to slide within the power-cylinder, an arm secured upon the main shaft carrying a pin with which a slot in said piston-rod engages, and valve mechanism connected to the pistonrod for bringing about the proper movements of the induction and exhaust valves, substan-' tially as and for the purposes set forth.

In combination with a gun of the character described, a reservoir-tank, tubes lead-- in said barrels, a power-cylinder communi-.

eating with said reservoir, valves 99 interposed between the. communication between the reservoir and power-cylinder, valve mechanism for operating-said valves in time with the movement of the piston within saidcylinder, and mechanisms adapted to be actu- 6 t I QWJT?) ated by the movementsof said piston to eperate the cylinders, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. I

8, In a gun of'the' character described, two barrels mounted upon a, suitable-bed, two cylinders adapted tower-k iii-conjunction therewith, a power-cylinder having" a piston arranged to slide therein, and means for conveyinga portion of the 'gases of explosion from the barrels to said cylinder whereby the piston will be caused by suitable connections to actuate thseVera1 mechanisms for bringing about the loading and firing of the gun, substantiall gals shown and described.

. In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' ROMULUS R. RICHMOND. Witnesses:

S. S. WILLIAMSON, G. W. ALEXANDER, O. H. ALEXANDER. 

